The Wicked Cyborg Read Online Free PDF Page B

told him. “Trust me, therefore, until you develop sufficient wisdom of your own. Before we enter even a shabby town like Fetid Landing we must disguise ourselves.”
    Tad said, “You actually think Cousin Joshua will come hunting us?”
    “Joshua, Hohl, Cornelia and a multitude of goons,” Electro assured him. “After all, I know far too much and you are the rightful heir to the entire Rhymer Industries empire. We’re lucky Hohl is too preoccupied with his smuggling to have noticed our departure yet.”
    “Wait. Am I the heir? I didn’t know that.”
    “Naturally, since they didn’t want you to know.”
    “But my mother would have kno—”
    “She was flummoxed, same as you and your slack-witted attorney. But enough babbly on the subject of familial crookedness.” He fisted his left side, causing a small door to pop open.
    “I never noticed that when I was repairing you.”
    “See my earlier reference to wisdom.” From the opening Electro withdrew an oblong box marked DISGUISE KIT. “I happen to be a makeup wizard.” He delved into the kit, extracting a tube of something green. “While I’m doing this, reach into your rucksack, my boy, for that cloak I foresightedly snatched out of the wardrobe closet. No use greening up my entire body.”
    “You’re going to paint yourself green?” Tad slung off his knapsack, dug around until he located the plaid cloak.
    “I am converting myself into a lizard man.” Draping the cloak over a tree branch, Tad remarked, “This particular plaid won’t go with green.”
    “A gentleman of style can wear anything. I set trends, lad, I don’t follow them.”
    “For somebody who usually goes around unclothed you claim—”
    “My brain is a storehouse of fashion lore. Here, hold this mirror while I produce the scale effect.”
    Tad held the small oval at eye level. “You sure you can be a convincing lizard man?”
    Electro stooped slightly, went about creating scales on the green substance he’d applied to his chrome face. “What does it take to be a lizard? One of the dullest types in the known universe. Snooze in the sun, catch flies with your tongue, shed your skin now and then.”
    “Reverend Dimchurch was much more versatile than—”
    “Oh, right, he was also a smuggler.” Electro paused to inspect his progress. “Seems fairly convincing in this rather mucky moonlight. What do you think?”
    “Yep, you’re starting to look like a lizard.”
    “When we encounter anyone I’ll not only look like a lizard man, I’ll act like one.”
    “Cousin Cosmo built an awful lot of talents into you.”
    “Yes,” agreed Electro, wagging his now lizard-like head. “Ill do the hands next, possibly the arms up to the elbows. Then we’ll tackle you.”
    Tad protested, “You’re not going to turn me into a lizard.”
    “You couldn’t bring it off,” said Electro. “All we need do with you is lighten your hair and give you a smattering of beard. Joshua’s scouts will be seeking news of a dark lad and an imposing robot. They’ll ignore gossip and rumors about a blond young fellow traveling with an overweight lizard man.”
    “I suppose so.”
    “You don’t sound terrifically confident.” The robot applied artificial lizard skin to his metal hands.
    “It’s only that, well, Electro, you’ve been in that underground lab for six years,” said Tad. “Out here the world is different, this theatrical bluffing may not work.”
    “You haven’t led that worldly a life yourself so far. At least according to your dossier.”
    “I lived at home, went to a fairly private school, didn’t travel much,” Tad admitted. “There never seemed to be enough money for anything beyond the essentials. My mother kept me close to her, maybe because she didn’t want any accidents to happen to me.”
    “Very well then,” said the robot. “We’re both in need of practical experience. Let us, therefore, proceed to gather some.”
    “First we better change the color of my